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Wednesday, 28 February 2018

Hey lovely readers! Hope you're all doing well and that 2018 is treating you all well so far. Can someone explain how this month has literally rolled past please?

Along with my usual fave songs, tv shows, movies, and monthly picture - I want to share a quote that I've loved from the month, along with a blogger I'm loving right now, plus a news story that's made me smile! I think there's a lot of bad things happening on this planet right now, so wanted to share some of the good I've found. Hope you all have a great March!

Quote
If I could put the entire speech of this extremely smart and brave young lady on here, I would. To see the whole thing, click here - but here is the part that hit me the hardest.

“If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and how it should never have happened and maintain telling us how nothing is going to be done about it, I’m going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association”- Emma Gonzales, gun control rally in wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Florida shooting

Song
This whole soundtrack is FLAWLESS, but this is the one that I can listen to on repeat for the rest of my life. The entire song is beautiful, and the lyrics are definitely a power anthem. I've had this playing a lot at home, and I think my sister is sick of hearing it, but it's such a good song - and the lyric video below gets me hyped for the movie again!

News Story

'Husband gives wife same present for Valentine's Day for 39 years - and she still absolutely loves it'

I saw this post on a number on news sites this month, and thought it was a beautiful love story. Ron and Donna have been doing the same thing on Valentine's Day, every year for 39 years, and they're determined to keep it going - he always gets her the same box of chocolates each year. Donna was recently diagnosed with Dementia, so he wants to keep this going so she doesn't forget who he is.

TV Show
I am sooo excited that RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 3 a few weeks ago, and we're now underway with episode 5. I've loved the selection of Queens for this year, and I've been laughing at that Bitchelor episode for a week now! Thankfully 2 of my top 3 winners are still in the running, so my fingers are crossed for them!

Picture
Fave picture of the month is this one of all these journals in Hobbycraft! I've got really into organising things recently, and decluttering, so I decided to get rid of a bunch of half used journals, and just buy a decent one. I have a daily planner - the leaf print on of the bottom row - as well as a healthy living journal/tracker, which is the 'You Can Do It!' planner on the top row. I've been using them for 3 weeks now and I am loving getting myself sorted with them both.

Hope you enjoy this new format of my monthly faves - please let me know what you think as I'd love to hear your opinions! How has your February been, and what are your faves from the categories above? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

Monday, 26 February 2018

I've become a little obsessed with Netflix over the last year - mainly as my sister is kind enough to let me steal her account!

There are a whole host of amazing TV shows and movies on there, but I wanted to share with you the TV shows I've been loving over the past 12 months! All of these are currently available on Netflix UK, so regional restrictions may apply.

Star Trek Discovery
I was raised on Star Trek, Smallville, and Stargate SG-1 - all down to my Dad there! So when I saw that Star Trek was getting a TV reboot and it would be on Netflix, I was so excited for it. I've also gone back and started to rewatch the original series as well, as Discovery is a prequel to the originals.
This has not disappointed me thus far. I only have the very last episode to watch, which I'm saving for this week - but the entire series has been incredible. The cast is one of the best I've witnessed on TV since Game of Thrones. I've loved the story line, and OMG that freaking twist near the end!!

GLOW
I was a bit dubious about this series, but boy, am I glad I watched this. I love Alison Brie in Community, so thought I would give this a try, and it's been so good! Cannot wait for season 2! It features a bunch of ladies back in the 80's becoming the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, for a TV show. It's not based on anyone in particular, but is themed around the GLOW movement to get women into wrestling. #TeamZoya

Orange Is The New Black
I was very hesitant to start watching this when it first came to Netflix, but I am HOOKED. I am still not over the death of a certain someone - who I won't mention due to spoilers - but the latest season that came out in 2017 ended on such a cliffhanger that I'm eager to see how the new season will turn out. If you've not seen it, read the book first, and then come and see this about the ladies of Litchfield, and you'll be in love with some of the inmates soon!

RuPaul's Drag Race
You all know how much I love this show. If you've read my blog a lot, you'll have seen me mention it a dozen times over the last 12 months. It's one of the biggest insights into the wonderful world of Drag Queens, and Mama Ru! All Stars 3 is airing right now, and sadly isn't on Netflix, but season 10 which is out next month, will be on Netflix for you to enjoy and get your fix of sickening fishy Queens who are beat for the Gawds.

The Crown
I am lover of the Royal Family, so when this began airing, I was a few months late to the party, and I wish I had watched it sooner! The first 2 seasons are on Netflix for you to binge, and features the first few years of Queen Elizabeth II's reign of the UK. Of course some of it is based on facts, but the rest is embellished for entertainment purposes - but the casting is spot on.

Marvel Series
Here we have Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Defenders, and Punisher. I've only got as far as Iron Fist right now, but so far - amazing. I love Marvel in general, and so far Luke Cage and Daredevil have been my faves. I can't wait to start the Defenders and see them all team up. If you enjoy the Marvel films of Agents of SHIELD, then you'll love these shows too.

There are a a dozen other shows I wanted to mention, but kept the list short and sweet for the time being! I love nothing more than a Netflix binge while curled up in bed. What Netflix shows would you recommend for us to watch? And if you've seen any of the above, let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

Friday, 23 February 2018

Spring is just around the corner and for most of us this is a time of hope and optimism… a time to look forward to warmer days and shorter nights… yet, it’s also a time that many of us utilise to reinvigorate our homes, wardrobes and gardens with a good old fashioned spring clean!

This article offers a four-step process of going about a spring clean in order to help you create a more harmonious home environment for you and your family.

1. DECLUTTER

There’s a popular saying that states a “tidy house tidy mind”, which is equally true in reverse; in that a cluttered house can contribute to a cluttered mind. In fact, there have been a number of sociological and psychological studies that link the two. If you are always searching through clutter to find your car keys, or frantically searching through drawers prior to going on holiday in a desperate attempt to find your passport - then you could certainly benefit from this advice.

This all important step of decluttering naturally leads onto the next phase of ‘getting organised’... as decluttering your home is a natural precursor to getting organised; for how can you get organised when there is clutter everywhere?

2. GET ORGANISED

Most people need some form of order in their life in order to feel calm, centered, grounded and balanced. This sense of emotional stability is closely linked to the feeling of stability and order you feel within your home life. Now that you’ve decluttered your home, you need to get organised, which sounds like a drag but the time investment will pay off as it will make your life a lot easier in the long run. Don’t forget to go through your wardrobe and put winter items such as coats in proper storage so they are ready to use again in the winter.

3. GET RID OF UNWANTED ITEMS

Whether it’s removing the internal clutter from your house or removing garden waste it can take a amount of time and effort if you do it yourself. However, there is a surprising amount of money to be made for people willing to clear other people’s junk; and although junk removal prices vary hugely based on the area in which you live, there’s a strong chance it will be quite high; a better option might be to hire a skip, or a a van for the day, that can be used to cart rubbish to the tip.

4. CLEANSE

The act of cleaning your home isn’t a purely physical experience; it has clear practical benefits but there are significant emotional benefits to cleaning too. It can be cathartic to go through your home and clean every corner of it, whether that is pulling cobwebs down from the ceiling, hoovering each room, or deep cleaning the mildew that has grown around the bathtub. The process of cleaning your physical home gives you an opportunity to cleanse the energy and emotion stored within your home, and can be a very soothing experience.

Whilst cleaning can be a bit of a drag, if you have a good playlist to clean to, it makes the process a lot more fun and engaging.

Wednesday, 21 February 2018

Being a geek is something I love as part of my identity, and it's been something I've classed myself as since I was about 12, so this has been a long time love affair. If you're a geek as well, then you're super shiny, for going on this unexpected journey, so just watch your language, and you will forever and always, be a geek.

References
You'll notice a fandom reference a mile away. This could be a simple word that reminds you of a fandom, or quoting a whole scene with a friend or someone online. I still can't hear the words shiny or always without thinking about Firefly or Harry Potter!

Comic Con
I go to the one in London each October, but they also have other locations like Manchester, Birmingham, and Scotland. This is the perfect place to go to buy copious amounts of geek merchandise, meet celebs from your fave tv shows or movies, and meet up with like-minded individuals. I end up spending the weekend here, and bought waaaay to much! I've met the Hillywood Show girls here before, and that was one of my fave memories!

Merchandise
This is my downfall. I have so many merch items. This is a fun way to decorate your house/bedroom. My room is filled with Pop! figures, Marvel figurines, movie posters, and Harry Potter memorabilia. This is also a nice way to collect items, and it's something I think is always worth the money! Merchandise is a great thing about being a geek, as there is just so much to choose from.

Golden Age of Super Hero Movies
And also TV shows. I was 16 when the first Marvel phase one film came out - aka, Iron Man. They've just celebrated their 10 year 'class photo' in what I can only describe as the most talent-filled picture I think I've ever seen. We're all lucky to be alive while all these amazing geek films are being made. Be it Marvel, DC, Kick-Ass, or TV shows like Supernatural, Chicago Fire, Grey's Anatomy, there is a fandom for everyone to find their niche.

Comic Books
This is a relatively new find from 2016 that I've become quite into. I mainly only read DC's rebirth of the Harley Quinn series, but I also have a few Marvel comics, along with both volumes of The Losers. This a relatively cheap item to buy (usually under £3/$3). It's usually bi-weekly, so doesn't break the bank.

Fandoms
I've mentioned fandoms a lot in the above sections. You can be a Potterhead, a Supernatural Hunter, a member of whatever GOT house you want to be, an Agent of SHEILD, or a Doctor at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. Pretty much 90% of TV shows and movies end up with a fandom, and they're full of some awesome fans. Plus the fandoms are the best place to meet others with the same interests, and you can debate about 'Cleganbowl' for as long as you want!

Friendships
I've found a lot of friends online via fandoms and twitter. I've met a few at Comic-Con, but the majority are online friends from around the globe. Harry Potter was my biggest connector as a teenager - I found a load of people who loved the books and films, and even now, 12 years later, I'm still chatting to a load of them. Fandoms connect people!

Quizzes
Who else loves the abundance of pop culture quizzes you can find online? Yes, we may never know for sure what Hogwarts house we would be in, but we can always find out if we're more like Sherlock or John with the amount of quizzes online.

Self-Love
Something about being a geek teaches you self-love. You know who you are and you're proud to be that way. I was the girl who knew all about Harry Potter at school, and I wore that badge with honor. It teaches you that there are other like you out in the wild, and what's not to love about being your authentic self?

Cosplays
Your costumes are always on point. I hate dressing up for Halloween, but if I treat it like a cosplay day, then I will go all out on whatever character I want to be that day! If you hand make them, you're also learning skills such as sewing, crafting, and the wonder of being a seamstress!

Are you a geek? If so, why do you love being one? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

Monday, 19 February 2018

Back at the start of 2017, I had the idea to create a set of Disney Inspired Look Books - featuring the Princesses we all know and love from the movies, in the run up to my Florida holiday last September. It only took me about 9 months to do them all, but now they're all over and done with, here is a round up of all the look books, so you can go back and check them out!

Friday, 16 February 2018

After Hurricane Irma had left the area, the curfew was lifted, which meant on Tuesday the 12th of September, we were allowed back outside! We were eager to eat something that wasn't crisps or chocolate, as that was all we'd pretty much had for the last 2/3 days. So, getting back on schedule, we headed off to Hollywood Studios, to celebrate my 25th birthday a couple of days later than planned.

We headed straight for Toy Story Mania, as we knew that would be busy, plus we had Fastpasses for the other main attractions. This ride is so much fun, I can totally see why the queue can be so long at times. After this, we headed to the Star Wars Launch Bay, and watched a mini film about the movies, and then went to have a browse around the Launch Bay.

While there, we met Kylo Ren - which was our first character experience so we didn't know what was going on, but then we figured it out and went to meet Chewbacca and BB-8! From there, we ventured to the Hollywood Tower Hotel, before skipping the hour line for Aerosmith's Rock 'n' Rollercoaster.

After the rides, we headed to the Sci-Fi Dine In Theater for dinner. It was DELICIOUS, and not snack food, yay! This is such a unique place to eat, so I highly recommend booking it, but we were able to walk-in as we were so early. After eating we wanted to see the Indiana Jones Stunt show, but we were a little late arriving, so sadly didn't get great seats - but still got to see the show!

When we got back to the villa, we still didn't have power or air con, so we had a quick dip in the pool, before we headed out out to Ponderosa for dinner. We checked out the discount store next door to it, and then we got home, the power had come back on!

This is one of my fave Disney Parks - I love everything here! Which park is your fave? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)

Wednesday, 14 February 2018

I've been listening to a lot of music over the past month so thought I would create this little list off all the songs I am loving right now! Click any of the titles to get taken to a YouTube video, so you can check them out for yourself. Hope you like them!

Monday, 12 February 2018

It's Valentines Day on Wednesday, so the towns have been filled with red hearts for the past month. I'm not a huge lover of the day, personally, but as my boyfriend is, and it's our first once together, we're having a nice evening together, which I'm sure he's planned out already! But, if you're still not sure what to do for the 'big' day, here are some ideas of what you and your other half can do!

Dinner Out
Always a good win in my books! This can be something as simple as a McDonald's if you're on a budget, or you can head to places like a Beefeater, Frankie & Benny's, or a Nandos!

Cinema
There are a whole hose of films out right now, and even if you don't do V-day on Wednesday, you can wait until the weekend and go see any new releases. Or wait for an extra week and you can go see the new Black Panther film!

Bowling
Bowling is honestly so much fun, and you can make it into a competition! The loser pays for dinner, the winner gets to pick where to eat, etc. Plus this is also a good activity to do for any date day, so you can make it a regular thing.

Stay In
This is a fave idea of mine, nothing makes me happier than snuggled on the couch! Have a bunch of snacks, and watch a film on Netflix or NowTV, and you're good for the night. This is also a good idea if you're on a budget, or you're both shattered after work that day!

Theme Park Weekend
Wanting to go a little more extravagant, you can celebrate at the weekend instead and head off to some Theme Parks. Here in the UK, we can get to Chessington, Thorpe Park, and Alton Towers, and why not do a long weekend, and do all three of them?

West End Shows
If you're able to get to London, you can even go and see some West End shows for a change of scenery. You have a range of shows on, such as Wicked, The Lion King, Mamma Mia!, and Thriller. If you're not sure which ones to go to, check out this top 10 list for some ideas.

Hope you like these ideas - I'm hoping for a night in myself! What are your up to for Valentines day? Let me know! Hope you have a great day and keep safe :)